Gotham Knightscould have an interesting spin on the usual Batman video game formula. In the new game, Batman is dead, and players will take on the role of Nightwing, Tim Drake’s Robin, Batgirl, or Red Hood. The action RPG is set to have an open-world version of Gotham City, where the four heroes unite in the wake of Batman’s death to take on the Court of Owls. Batman’s death inGotham Knightscould be a huge deal for each of the major characters, and his passing will likely affect each of them differently.
Despite the death of Bruce Wayne being a focal point inGotham Knights, the game isn’t set in the same continuity as theBatman: Arkhamseries. Instead, it’s a new canon being established, separate from the canon whereSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueis set in the Arkhamverse.Gotham Knightsis an opportunity for the other heroes of the Bat-Family to take center stage without The Dark Knight being directly involved. While he won’t have a physical presence inGotham Knights, Batman’s influence is bound to be seen in the game and directly influence the characters and their actions.
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Dick Grayson AKA Nightwing
Dick Grayson was the first Robin, and he had an extremely close relationship with Batman in the comics. As he got older, he decided to become Nightwing and protect the city of Bludhaven. Despite his later independence under the Nightwing persona, Dick Grayson could be hurt the most from Batman’s death. Dick Grayson, like Bruce Wayne, lost his parents at a young age to criminals and became orphaned.
It would make sense inGotham Knightsto focus on this parallel between the two characters and have Nightwing become the de facto leader of the Bat-Family. It would be unwise for Dick to take up the Batman mantle formally, as this could undermine Bruce Wayne’s death, but Nightwing would be the most logical choice to become the new head of the vigilante family.
Jason Todd AKA Red Hood
Batman’s death couldaffect Red Hood in several different ways, and his arc could be the most interesting because of that. Jason Todd was killed by The Joker, only to be revived in the Lazarus Pit by Talia al Ghul. Jason was reborn as a hateful and violent person who blamed Bruce Wayne for his death and plotted to kill him for some time before reneging on his plan. He would go on to work with his Bat-Family members, but his relationship with them would remain uneasy.
The death of Batman could see Red Hood indulging in his violent methods and seek revenge against those who killed Batman. Or he could wind up feeling guilt, the same way Bruce felt after he thought he lost Jason. Either route would be intriguing for Red Hood and help set his own arc apart from the rest of the Bat-Family.
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Barbara Gordon AKA Batgirl
BatgirlinGotham Knightsis notable as a playable character because her background is unknown in this continuity. InThe Killing Jokecomic, The Joker paralyzes Barabara from the waist down, whereas in some later comics she is shown to be fully recovered from it and has assumed the alias of Batgirl. InGotham Knights, it’s unknown which version of Batgirl this is, but it could be that she has recovered from her injuries due to her in-game hacking abilities, usually associated with her Oracle persona.
It’s easy to foresee that Batgirl could be emboldened by Batman’s death and seek to bring justice to those who killed him. Where Red Hood would likely kill those responsible for The Dark Knight’s death, Batgirl would sooner bring them to justice. Thanks to her work with Batman, and her father being Commissioner Jim Gordon, Barbara would rather see the killers in a jail cell and serve time than any other possible outcomes.
Tim Drake AKA Robin
Gotham KnightsRobin is Tim Drake. Tim is in a unique position in that he was very likely acting as Robin when Batman died. This could mean that Tim, out of all the playable heroes, was the closest to Bruce Wayne leading up to his death, and he could take his passing the hardest.
As a character, this Robin is far more of a natural detective than he is a combatant, which could see him fit in the team in a supportive role in addition to his duties as a vigilante. In one comic arc, after Batman’s death, Tim Drake becomes the protector of Gotham for a time under the guise of Robin. It wouldn’t be surprising to see this happen inGotham Knights,too, as Tim’s advanced sleuthing skills make him a logical choice to hunt down and defeat the resident supervillains.
While he won’t be a playable character, it’s worth noting the possible effect of Batman’s death onthe witty Alfred Pennyworth. Alfred raised Bruce after his parents were murdered, so he will likely be grief-stricken but helpful to the Bat-Family in their efforts against Gotham’s criminal element. Even the likes of Mr. Freeze and Catwoman could be affected, as the villains have sometimes teamed with Batman in the comics and taken on an anti-hero role. Even for the villains of Gotham, Batman’s death could loom large for the likes of Joker if he’s included in the game.
InGotham Knights,the death of Batman should be a big deal. His death could be a big driver for the events of the game and affect each character differently. While the Bat-Family will each want revenge and continue Bruce’s work, each individual is different from the next and they should experience nuanced and unique anguish. It could be a unique experience for fans to play a Gotham-set game without Batman, and it could serve to elevate Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl, and Robin as major characters in DC Comics games.
Gotham Knightswill launch in 2022 on PC. PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
